Breastfeeding after planned c-section

[TeainanIV]

Hello all! I had an elective C-section on 6th Nov and welcomed another gorgeous DD to our family. We're home now and settling but I'm really struggling with breastfeeding as my milk is showing no signs of appearing yet. Baby girl is constantly wanting to be on the boob - and won't settle unless she has a nipple in her mouth. But now is getting increasingly frustrated as it's clear there's very little coming out now - colostrum is there but she's been on it for hours at a time that I think there's just nothing left! I don't know whether I should be topping up with formula or whether to carry on and hope my supply comes soon? Her latch is great, nothing wrong with that at all and no tongue tie.

I breastfed my first DD until she was 2 years old and I'll be devastated if I can't feed my DD2 😞

I think you need to know her weight to know what is going on. Great that the midwife is coming today.

@Mama05070704 midwife has just been and suggested the same! Hopefully my milk will come in tomorrow 🙏🏼 the rate she's been on my boobs it should be anyway!!

Was going to say same as above poster about wet nappies. When my son was born I was worried as my breasts weren't feeling full and no milk seemed to be leaking, but looking back he was having wet nappies constantly so I know he was getting milk. Baby feeding lots and crying will help to bring your milk in too. Keep going with putting baby to breast and your mill will be in soon I'm sure.

I had a csection, it took 5 days for my milk to come in - baby was grand on colostrum. Their tummies are tiny at that age and breastmilk is digested quickly, which is probably why baby is feeding so much.

Plenty of milk removal will help stimulate your milk supply too, make sure to keep hydrated, it's thirsty work!

I has a C-section and my milk didn’t come in until day 6. We managed on colostrum and fed formula from a cup, if that’s an option?

Congratulations on your new baby!! It all sounds very normal.
think of the time she’s on your breast as her putting her order in ready for when the milk comes. It’s good that she wants to be on constantly as that’s what will stimulate your production.
i was day 3-4 with both my c-sections.
unless she’s showing signs of low blood sugar or dehydration, you shouldn’t need to top up. Colostrum is magic!
kellymom had the best breastfeeding info IMO!
Good luck x

I had a C-section 2 weeks ago and think it was like day 5 the milk came in, pretty sure it was similar with my oldest who was born vaginally!

As someone else said they have tiny stomachs (think it’s cherry sized as a newborn) so could be she is full but just wanting some comfort. No harm in trying formula, we have been doing a couple of bottles a day so DH can help with feeds and it’s not affected her breastfeeding at all.

I’m also a midwife so maybe we all have the same spiel 😂 Hope it gets easier for you soon. The first few days are exhausting but you’re doing an amazing job x

After my C-section I think it was a good 10 days before I produced milk. My baby was clearly starving - screaming after trying for hours to get milk. I had no choice but to give formula top ups, which she would guzzle down poor thing! It made me so sad at the time, but honestly looking back I just wish I’d been kinder on myself. We ended up needing to use top
ups for 6-8 weeks until breastfeeding was properly established and then I breastfed until she was two without any more issues.
Those early my days are tough, be kind on yourself and if your baby needs a top up don’t beat yourself up about it.